Livelihood and security

The Glorious Quran has established a direct relation between security and livelihood on several occasions. In “Surat” An-Nahl Chapter (The Bees) Allah Almighty says: “Allah strikes a parable of the village which was safe and peaceful. Its provisions came in abundance from everywhere; but it was thankless for the favours of Allah. Therefore, for what they were doing, Allah let it taste the garment of hunger and fear” (16:112). So when the village was safe and its people worked together to maintain its safety, its provisions came in abundance from everywhere but when they became thankless for the favours of Allah Almighty, Allah let them taste the garment of hunger and fear. In the same chapter “Surat” Allah Almighty says: “We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves” (16:118). In “Surat” Koraysh Chapter Allah says: “For the custom of the Koraysh,* Their custom of the winter and summer journey* Therefore let them worship the Lord of this House * Who fed them from hunger and secured them from fear”. In “Surat” Al-Qasas Chapter (The Story), the Holy Quran commented on the people of Mecca who were granted security and livelihood for preserving the scared mosque and its security: “ But have We not given them a secure sanctuary from which fruits of every kind are collected as a provision from Us? Indeed, most of them do not know” (57). In “Surat” Al-Anfal (Battle Gains), Allah says: “And remember how He gave you shelter when you were few in number and considered weak in the land, ever fearing that the people would snatch you away; but He gave you refuge and supported you with His victory and provided you with goodness, so that you might give thanks” (8:26). And when Prophet Abraham (peace by upon him) prayed to God to provide his family and offspring with a homeland and fruits “And when Abraham said: ‘My Lord, make this country safe and provide its inhabitants whosoever of them believes in Allah and the Last Day with fruits”. (2:126). The Holy Quran narrates the words of Abraham (peace be upon him): “And when Abraham said: ‘My Lord, make this a land secure. Turn me and my children away from worshipping idols. My Lord they have led many people astray. Whosoever follows me belongs to me. Whosoever rebels against me, You are surely Forgiving, the Most Merciful. Our Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a barren valley near Your Holy House; our Lord, in order that they establish the prayer. Make the hearts of people yearn towards them, and provide them with fruits, in order that they are thankful” (Ibrahim 35-37). Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said reminding us of the blessings of Allah: “The one among you who wakes up secure in his property, healthy in his body and has his food for the day, it is as if the whole world were brought to him”. As we can see, Prophet Muhmmad (peace be upon him) who does not speak out of desire advances the blessing of security to health and livelihood to emphasize the importance of these blessings and the need to preserve them. He referred to security with the phrase “secure in his property” to stress the need for protecting your home regardless of its size or nature.

There is a positive correlation between security and livelihood and investment climate. Whenever security and safety are fulfilled, growth, they are directly followed by investments, work, production and different means of earning. On the contrary, wherever there is war, extremism, terrorism, destruction and vandalism, and corruption, life becomes harder and everybody is plagued by poverty.

Hence, Islam prohibited threatening the lives of people that Prophet Muhammad denied the merit of faith – regardless of the different interpretations of this denial as denial of the merit in full or of its perfection- to those who threaten the safety and security of people: “The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe, and the believer is the one people trust with their lives and wealth”. Prophet Muhammad also said: “He shall not be a true believer that who breaks his oath”, “By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer.” It was asked, “Who is that, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “One whose neighbour does not feel safe from his evil” and “That you keep yourself from harming people is a charity”.

Islam has forbidden all forms of corruption and mischief. Allah Almighty says in his Glorious Quran: “Do not make mischief in the earth after it has been put right” (Al-A’raf “The Ramparts” 56), and “do not corrupt the land with mischief”. (Hood “The Prophet Hood” 85). Allah Almight also says: “ There is he whose sayings pleases you in this worldly life and uses Allah as a witness for what is in his heart, but he is most stubborn in adversary* No sooner does he leave than he hastens about the earth to corrupt there and destroy crops and cattle. Allah does not love corruption* When it is said to him: ‘Fear Allah, ‘ egotism takes him in his sin. Hell-fire shall be enough for him. How evil a cradling!” (2: 204-206) and “Could it be, that if you turn away, you might make corruption in the land and break the ties of kinship?* Such are those whom Allah has cursed, making them deaf and blinding their eyes* Will they not then contemplate on the Koran? Or are there locks upon their hearts!” (47:22-24).